Synchronizing mechanism



F. R. SOMMERMEYER.

SYNCHRONIZING MECHANISM.

APFLlc/mou min MAY2,1s1a.

1,391,423. www. 20,1921.

j A 0oDd0\DDoOQ Q Incanto/c aucune@ @2W M //QS A,um'rvlao STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE.. i

FRANK R. SQMMERMEYER, or srRrNeLAxE, MrCHIGAN.

sYNcHaoNIzING MECHANISSM.

To allwhom t may concern:

- Be it known'that I, FRANKR. SOMMER- ivrnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spring Lake, county of Ottawa, Statey of Michigan, have invented a certain Vnew and useful Improvement in SynchronizingfMechanism,and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. v i

This invention relates to synchronizing .mechanism particularly adapted for operat- -p ing stage. effect producing devices in timed relation with'scenes displayed by a moving picture film. In my pending application YSerial No.113,397, filed Aug. 5, 1916,-,is disclosed variousk types ofdevices for producing various visible and audible stageieffects to be operated in timed relationwith a scene displayed by a moving picture machine, "which effect producing devices are controlled by a perforated master` strip operating over a tracker board, .and in order that the various effect producing devices may be operated at the time the corresponding scene is dis- :broader aspect the played onY the'screen it 1s necessary that the vmovement of theV strip across the tracker board be maintained with the -movementof the film through the moving picture apparatus. To thisen therefore the primary object of the invention is a device by means of which the strip may be operated and advanced or retarded relative to the'movenient of the film. In its fperforateA master A strip is in fact the controlled devicel for thestage eifectproducing devices and,therefore, the

object ofthe :invention is a means to operate a control vdevice in synchronismk with the movement' of the film. In particular the obvject ofthe inventionis to provide a means for operatinga perforate master strip across a tracker boardY and means for controlling 'the movement thereof'in synchronism' with the movement of 'the film. These several objects and the particular novel features of construction arev hereinafter more 'specifically set forth and claimed andshown in the Yaccompanying drawings'in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a control apparatus showing my synchronizing device in conjlmc'tionVV therewith.. L A Y Specification of'Letters Patent.

-Fi .2. f

s will be understood yfrom-the specifica-- producing device.

in exact time relation` vof which is to ratentedfsepa 2o, KV1921,.

l Application ,meavmay 2, 191s. i serial No. 232,003.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the synchronizing device.

Fig. Sis asection taken Online m-w of tionV of the said former application Serial No. 113,397, ythe various'effect producing devices are pneumatically controlled byfmeans of a master strip 13 having perforations y111: in the body thereof adapted to: register with tlle channels 11l and 12 in the :tracker board .fof tubes with the effect producing devices and opening of a channel 11 or 12 to atmoshere through .thev perforations 14 of the master strip produces operation of the effect Y The strip 13 has a series of equidista-ntly spaced perforations 15 ad- `j acentl each longitudinal edge thereof which are engaged by the toothedwhels 16 which are operated as herein shown by means f of a shaft 17 extending beneath the strip *as 'will be understood from F ig. `1. This shaft is provided. with a bevel gear 18 or other means by which it may be directly connected with a shaft of the moving picture apparatus so that the shaft is operated at a definite speed relative to thespeed of the lmthrough the picture machine depending upon the ratio of the gears employed; The speed move- 'ment of the perforate strip is preferably much slower than that of the speed of moved ment ofthe film, the desired relation-being that the perforations v14: uncover predetermined Vchannels 11 ofthe tracker board at the time required for operation-of the effect producing device connected` withr thechdnnel `oliie'ned'a'nd `to correspond lwith'the action -of the scene displayed.

The perforate strip-is carried on rollers 24v and 25v mounted at opposite ends of the case 26 .and each rollis yieldingly retarded which channels communicate by means in its revolution by means of the flat contact springs 26a engaging against the. ends of the rollers yas shown. preferably mounted on a pulley 26" in each instance and these pulleys may be directly driven by an electric motoror by a, belt 90 from a pulley on the shaft 17, the purpose takeupvslack in the strip. It is to be noted that the toothedwheels 16 are carried loosely on the shaft and are utilized to control .the speed of movement of the stripiin order that the perforations `14C y may be lmoved in exact synchronism with These sprmgs are l the -movementvof the film through the pro-l jecting apparatus. It is evident by reason of expansion or contraction of the strip and lack of accuracy in the driving-mechanism,

that it is possible the strip may not ,run` in.

exact synchronism with the movement ofthe film, and I have provided a means shown more particularly fin Figs. 2 and 3 to advance or retard movement of the perforate strip relative to the movement of the film so Athat the effect producing devices, controlled by registration ofthe vapertures 14 Y vof the strip with the channels of the tracker a shaft 44, and also on this shaft isa worm wheel 45 meshing with a worr'n46 on the shaft of the setting wheel 47. `These several shafts and gears are carried in a casting secured to the shaft 17 constitutingwhat I term the-controller 41. The gear group is inclosed Within a case 48 which is' slidably `mounted on one side of the case 26 as shown in Fig. 1. The case rides in ways as is shown particularly in Figs. y2 and 3 and may be moved by means -of a bar 49 secured to the base .of the case 48, and this bar may beop- Vmeans for operating the same. L

-As will be understood from Fig. 2, if the case be moved in one direction or the other in its ways they face of the-'wheel 47 is brought into frictional contactV with one side or the otherthereof, and the toothed wheels 16 are made to rotate either slower'or faster than the shaft 17 depending upon which side of the case is contactedy by the wheel 47.l When the case is in neutral position with the wheel 47 out of contact therewith, the toothed wheels16 are rotated at the same speed as theV drive shaft 17 and Awhen-the wheel 47 is` in contact with the side of the case the wheels 16 will rotate either slower or faster than the shaft 17 causing an advance or retard in movement of the strip.

The movement of the strip across the tracker `board' is independent lof the pulley 26b which merely keeps the strip taut. vThis is possible by reason of the fact that the rolls frictionally engage the pulleys by means of the springs 26a which would allow movement of the rolls independently of the lpulleys. It is thus evidentthat, by means of the wheel l47 and the'train of gearing connecting the same with the two wheels 16, the perforate master strip may be so moved across the tracker board that the apertures 14 are brought into registration iwith the respective channels' of the' tracker board at the tion. t

1. In combination with a driven shaft, Va

member rotatable on the shaft, a member rotatable `with the shaft, the two members being in geared relation, a friction wheel car- -riedlb "the second'memberV through rotation Vof which the Atwo'membersare caused `to rotate at different speeds,.means for causing the friction wheel to turn in-one direction or the .other during rotation of the driven shaft to advance or 'retard thespeed of rotation of the first memberrelative to the second member. 2. Incombination with a driven shaft, a

-member rotatable with the shaft, a member rotatable on-the shaft and in gearedrela tion with the member rotatable with.. the shaft, 4la. wheel constituting part of the first named member .through rotation ofwhich the 'speed' of rotation of the second Vmember vrelativeto the first member may be varied,

andamanually operated means brought into engagement with the said Wheelupon one side or the other at 'will to cause rotation thereof in one direction or theothe'r and ftherebyadvance or retard the speed o-fro-Y -tation Aof the second member. ierated directly or attached to any convenient 3. .The combination with a drivenshaft, of a power transmission. member rotatable therewith, a second member .including a toothed wheel rotatable -relative to the shaft and gearedrelation with the first named `member, a friction wheel` carried by theiirst 'named member. through'rotation of which the toothed` wheel maybe varied in speed of 'rotation', the said geared relationship ,off the ltoothed Wheel and said power transmission member.normally-causing'the same Yto rotate.

in unison, and a non-revoluble member of a character adapted to be brought Ainto enfgagement with the'friction-wheel upon one '-side or the other at willwhereby' said transl member rotatable on the sha-ft,l 'a gear group,

a support' forthe.groupjattached'to the shaft, the gear group havingfa gear thereof in'geared relation with said memberfafriction' Wheel for actuating the geargroup, and means for turning the friction Wheel to rotate in either direction and' advance or retard said member, relative to the shaft.4 1

In testimony whereof, I sign this spe'cifica-V Y Finnair R, soMammiErriga.. 

